#ccex

The whole trip from the castle to the stone carriage house-thing--Katie called it  a garage--was a flurry of numbers for me.  So when we jerked once--a "hyperspace jump" I was told--and then a second time--a crash landing--I was ready to just get out.

We only had so much control allowed us over the landing, so all things considered a good stone-chuck's away from our intended landing target's not that bad.  As soon as we touched down Zee scrambled up top to get to Katie, with Karime close behind.  I followed her, not really realizing how slow off the mark the Prince really was.

By the time I came up top Karime was giving Zee a hand carrying Katie in, and Zee was yammering on with someone who had come out of the garage.  A rustle and a swish half a shout behind me caught my ear, and I turned just in time to spot the Prince collapse and have someone swoop over him.  The garage-comer must've spotted it as well, because they were on top of me to scoop me up and spirit me inside before I could even think to squawk in protest.

"What was that for?" I cried once I was set back down.  The chap looked much like Zee--tall, railish, something clever and unidentifiably inhuman about his face--and rather surprised at my frustration.

"You're welcome for saving you."

"From what?  It got the Prince!"

"Would've gotten you too, regardless of rank."  He shrugged in matter-of-fact apology and tried turning away.  "Who knows who or what that could've been?"

"So?"

An exhale and an unnecessary move to polish his glasses.  "We were too far off, they were too quick.  Out here it's every being for itself."

"Damn that noise!" I thundered as best I could.  The squeak cheapened the effect, admittedly.  "You had to backtrack to me, didn't you?"  He didn't answer, but I paid it no mind.  It was my job to keep an eye out for the Prince, and I had failed.

But he and whomever--or whatever--had scooped him up weren't far off.

"Zee," I called out, "I'll be back soon."

He emerged from stairs going into the garage floor.  "Where're you going?"

"The Prince got nabbed.  I'll be back."